The founder of Yayasan Chow Kit said these mechanisms must provide safe, private spaces that will allow children to lodge reports without fear of being seen or overheard.
“The government needs to implement measures to protect children from potential reprisals.
“Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman spoke about an online system for children to report (sexual crimes) directly. We should get that going,” she told FMT.
Hartini said children should be given the option of using helplines, in-person reporting systems, online platforms and mobile apps to cater to their individual preferences and the situations they find themselves in.
She also stressed the need to proactively teach both children and parents about online safety, pointing out that according to the statistics department, the number of sexual crimes involving children increased last year by 26.5% to 1,567 cases, with child pornography offences rising by 139.3%.
Hartini said this worrisome trend reflects the many societal issues plaguing the country, including poverty, lack of education and family dysfunction that may leave children vulnerable.
“We seem to be reactive, not proactive. Where’s the comprehensive sex education in schools to teach children about consent, boundaries and online safety?
“We need sustained interest, resources, expertise and political will,” she said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Kitson Foong said the exponential rise in criminal cases involving child victims is a huge wake-up call for everyone.
He called for “swift” updates to outdated laws to address the new technologies and methods used to commit these crimes.
Foong said the government must lead by introducing initiatives that promote child safety awareness and provide families with resources.
“All stakeholders must sit up, take notice and stop blaming others for systemic failures that have contributed to this grave situation,” he said. - FMT
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